Peace Garden Mural
The Peace Gardens Mural project, led by artist Sophie Larter, is an expression of what Dissenters Hall in all its diversity means to the local community.
Our Peace Garden Mural project is the subject of a new podcast People So Bold, by Ann Howell. Ann is in conversation with project participants Lesley Emery and Gavin Howell about community building and the ripples it creates.
Inspired by the project Lesley has written a new play on the Unitarian suffragist Annie Leigh Brown, a central character in Sidmouth's history and in the mural.
Listen on spotify to the podcast about the Peace Garden Mural or on Cloudfront
Celebrating the launch of the new Peace Garden Mural at Dissenter of Sidmouth. Thanks to artist Sophie Larter, Sid Vale Choir, Blue Honey and to a surprise visit from Annie Leigh Browne (AKA Lesley Emery) supporters and participants gathered to celebrate the project and the new mural and to cement new connections made.
Peace Garden Themes
The themes that emerged and the images they inspired, have given voice to those who use and cherish the space. Artist Sophie Larter, is weaving these themes into the collaborative design of the mural that tells the story of people and place.
- Women shaping communities
- Celebration and connection
- Music and dance
- Body and soul
- Peace, hope and unity
- Respectful and inclusive
- Welcoming safe space
- Nature and nurturing
- Poetry and the written word
- Symbols, flags and banners
"The Peace Garden is a green lung for the town developed under the auspices of our civic arboretum group with the help of local gardeners and herbalists."Robert Crick, Trustee of the Old Meeting Unitarian Chapel, Sidmouth
A mural to reflect the place
The Peace Garden Mural project, led by mural artist Sophie Larter, embraces the rich tradition of visual arts to express community sentiments about a unique sanctuary of safety and reflection in our intricate world. This project's focus is on what Dissenter of Sidmouth means to people as their community venue, with the aim of crafting a permanent artwork that resonates with the themes of kindness and compassion.
The Peace Garden is at the southern wall of the Unitarian church and offers a blank space and a vacant plinth in the deconsecrated Dissenters’ burial ground at the top of the High Street. The creation of a new artwork for the Peace Garden at the Dissenter, Unitarian Church in Sidmouth is one of the seven elements of the Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub and Sidmouth School of Art Sidmouth Makes Art (SMArt) Project.
Peaceful, safe and caring
Today, this community space is often overlooked but it provides refuge, safety and support and a place to run community events and clubs. The buildings and outdoor space known as “Dissenter of Sidmouth” comprises the 17th century Old Meeting House and grounds, a dance studio, a reading room and kitchen area. Together, they provide a vital community meeting place for lots of people from all walks of life. including an art club, a folk choir, dance and aerobics classes, therapeutic exercise classes, a poetry circle, U3A, East Devon’s Talking Newspaper, singing lessons, office space, and social events such as concerts, political meetings, children’s parties, fundraising events, low-cost weddings and funerals and an open weekly lunch time Oasis Café which offers a warm space and a “Keep in Touch” opportunity.
About Dissenter
The name of the place is of course important - those who dissent - or disagree with mainstream opinions, as history has shown, can be important agents of positive change, fairness and equality.
More information about the space and its function, ethos and role in the community along with more information about its history can be found here…
Dissenter - a person who does not agree with opinions that are officially or generally accepted
Pioneer and Women's Rights Activist - Annie Leigh Browne
Design Workshops
To understand what those who use and value the space value about it. The users of the space from many groups and all walks of life are drawing, painting and feeding in their ideas to the mural design.
Along the way new skills about colour, scale, perspective and the history of murals as an art and public form of human expression, often at large scale and immersive, dating back to ancient civilisations.
The history of the extraordinary women Annie Leigh Browne and her sister Thomazine Mary and Annie's fellow Unitarian and life-partner Mary Stuart Kilgour. Each of them pioneers and suffragettes who fought for women's rights. They were instrumental in Sidmouth establishing the first maternity hospital, landscaping the Byes and funding a new school that is now the Annie Leigh Brown Room.
The building and it's different architectural styles are also providing inspiration for the mural design, colour and composition.
Sophie Larter
ArtistArtist, Life Model, Body Performer and Art Historian, Sophie's Life Model work forcuses on Women's experiences through the body and transformation that happens as subject and artist. Sophie's art practice explores and responds to the natural world and humanity, a multimedia artist who combines figurative and abstract techniques. Her recent collaborative work has centred on mural making.
Creative East Devon Fund
This project is part funded by the Creative East Devon Fund through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.